A dome with piercing arabesque patterns, inspired by Islamic carpet inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council (SMC)

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and ruler of Sharjah, the Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture has organised the 20th Edition of the Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival. 

The opening day marked opening of the exhibitions at the Sharjah Art Museum as well as two parallel outdoor installations. One of the two installations is the 'Floral Pavilion' by Daydreamers, an award-wining architectural studio from Hong Kong that also exhibited and amazing pavilion 'Spiral Arches' the last season. 

The 'Floral Pavilion' was inaugurated by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council (SMC); alongside Mohammed I. Al Qaseer, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs; Farah Qassim Mohammed, Islamic Arts Festival Executive; and esteemed guests.

Daydreamers consists of two architects Aden Chen and Stanley Siu who explained that their inspiration for the Pavilion came from Islamic carpet design, specifically from the Tabriz carpet. The artists researched the historical and artistic significance of the carpet design and created an outlined rectangular carpet pattern. The design, engraved in the arabesque shaped dome, forms an interesting space that plays with shape and shadow. During the day a shadow of the carpet is casted on the floor, and during the night LED strips delineate the pattern which gives an illusion of a twinkly sky.

The 'Floral Pavilion' is located at the tranquil and stunning Al Majaz Waterfront and will be on view until January 23, 2018.